Post Gastric Bypass Stomach Pain

Sound like what I have going on but in the upper right. I had a gastric by pass in 2002. Then a month after started getting a severe pain in upper right side. They say it's chronic pancreatitis. And are send me to see a pain Dr. Yes I have been living with the pain since 2002. And in and out of the hosp ever since. Good luck

I read your question and I had the exact same pain. I am two weeks post-op from repair of a perforated stomach (pouch) ulcer that almost killed me. The ulcer perforated and went into my liver. Please get to a doc that will listen to you as soon as possible. I almost died.

Kathy

I'm sorry to here you have had so many problems are you o.K now? That must have been scary.
Good luck in the future I hope from now on you feel better and better. April

I am glad I came across this website! I had gastric bypass surgery in jan 2002. Everything went fine and it was the best thing i've ever done. Then, about a year ago, I started having severe pain in the upper stomach...In by where the ribs split. It would only last a few hours or a day but it would hurt so bad that my back and kidneys would start to ached. But then it would go away for anywhere from a few days to 3 months so I ignored it. About 3 weeks ago, it started up again with a vengeance and kept spiking all day long for 3 days straight. Once day I started to tear up at the office so I went to the doctor. Of course, by the time I got there, the pain had dropped down again so it didn't hurt all that bad. My bloodtests showed that my lypase (sp?) count was more than double what it should be and I was told to come in and have a re-test done if the pain shot up again. It did, so I went in and had a second blood test. The pain went away that evening and hasn't been back since. I went in to see the doc the day before thanksgiving to discuss the results of the 2nd test and this time, the count was normal. They took a third blood test that day and scheduled an mri for the day after t-day. (he thought I had a blocked duct in the pancreas, where my gallbladder had been.) I just talked to the doc yesterday. My mri is fine, my 3rd blood test was fine so it has been diagnosed as a pancreatic stone and I was told to just watch it and go in if the pain returned. The pain has been gone since the night of the 2nd blood test...Which is great...But since I have had the same pain in the past--just not for such a long streak--i am wary that it will return.

Dailydata, it is too late to make this a long story short, but I am wondering how you are doing and if you've found out anything new?

Hi!

I had my surgery in may of 2002. Everything was great - no problems at all until last august 2003. I was in the hospital for 3 days because of a sharp pain in my upper tummy, just under the breast bone. They did a ct scan and found nothing. They did say that they could see a large air bubble, like gas. Every once in a while I will get that same pain, and the only thing that helps me it to lay on the couch, at a slight incline and just breathe deep. Eventually I can feel the gas move and in less time than it used to take, the pain goes away.

I'm not saying it is gas for sure, but it could be.

I did have a scary episode last tuesday (nov 23). I started throwing up large amounts of blood. I was in the hospital for 5 days. The endoscopy showed a bleeding ulcer. I'm ok now, my blood count is going back up and i've been on prescription prilosec since then.

Good luck to you!

Hello! Just a note to thank all of you for the responses I received to my message on 12/1. Luckily, I haven't had any real pain since then...A few "twinges" but very very minor. Hopefully it was just a stone, it passed thru, and now is done! :? I wish you all the best and I will continue to check in every so often to keep up on this subject.

Wow!!!. I have been experiencing the same pain.

I had the gastric bypass surgery in june 2003 and i've lost 120 pounds. I now weigh 130 pounds. But starting this past march I started getting these horrible stomach pains, they get my lower stomach, and back into horrible pain for about 12 hours at a time. I know it isn't my gall bladder since it has already been removed. So we started testing for kidney stones but nothing showed up. Then we tested my digestive system and everything looked normal. Now we are looking at the colon and nothing is showing up there. I would like to know what causes these pains to start.

I always get the pains like 6 hours after eating. Dumping syndrome usually comes on right after eating certain foods, or drinking while eating or eating too much. It is miserable but goes away really quick.

When I get these attacks I can't even lay down because my back hurts so bad. When I had my first attach in march I couldn't sleep in my bed for over 2 weeks, I was sleeping ont he couch sitting up. Really sucks.

Still going to the doctors but always looking for someone else who has gone through this. The doctors keep saying this isn't from the surgery, but I don't know what to believe.

Went and had an ultrasound of my bile duct, spleen, liver, appendix, kidney, pancreas and digestive system. My ultrasound came back clean. The gi doctor pretty said I do not know what is wrong with you. So today I am going to see an allergist to see if I am reacting to a food allergy that I do not know about

then today I went and did the food allergy testing everything came back clean.

Next is an ob/gyn.

Any ideas what is wrong with me?

I am also having pain. It is driving me nuts. Everyone says I have anxiety. Who would'nt after five years of this roller coaster called gastric bypass. I am having the scope on wed. My dad died of an ulcer so I know they are nothing to mess with. I really hope that its not in my head. I am beginning to think that we were mostly medical lab testers. Well see. :cry:

I myself can relate to your complications. I had the gastric bypass in november 2003 with out any complications until may of 2005. I experienced on going complications with sever pain and troubles with eating any kinds of food. After a year and a half of no complications with my bypass the doctors felt as though that it was not related. I was told most likely it was just a bacterial infection and to take antibiotics and nexium and that the pain should subside and I should be able to eat again. They were wrong. I had all the test which did not show anything was wrong, and after many times to the doctor and a loss of 16 pounds in 5 weeks was still told that it was just an infection of some kind. They were wrong. On the night of july the 26th I experienced pain to the point I could not walk and almost passed out. I was taken to the emerg room and it was identified that I had a perforated gastric ulcer which almost killed me. The surgeon who performed the repair of the damages caused from the ulcer stated that I am the second case like this he has seen and that he felt as though this was infact related to the bypass as a side effect. The explanation I was provided was that with the gastric bypass that the new flow of food traveling from the stomach into the intestine with out the natural break down of digestion of the food is the possible cause of the complication since the intestine is not prepared for foods that are not digested fully of any kind. I would truly recommend that you see your original bypass surgeon and explain your concerns to insure that you are followed closely. Other possible side effects could be a stricture. I only hope that they correct your complications before you end up in an emerg. Surgery as I did. Good luck. :)

Hi, I am 22 years old and had gatric bypass surgery in 2002, in fresno california. I am just over 3 years out and for the last year I have been having constant pain in my stomach (right under my ribcage). I have just spent 12 days in the hospital and was sent home with no diagnosis yesterday 10/23/05. I underwent laproscopic surgery twice the first time they untwisted my bowel, but the pain didn't go away , went back in for surgery (no findings) had and endoscopy, colonoscopy, x-rays, bloodwork, everything has come back normal. I don't know what is going on. Got on this website to hopefully find some answers. I feel like I am the black sheep of gastric bypass (by the way my gb doctors are treating me). My doctors make comments that this pain has "nothing to do with gastric bypass" and they even made the comment to my mom that "it's all in my head!" I don't know what to do? I was normal and felt good before this surgery and my first few years weren't quite this bad. I got stenosis two weeks out of surgery and this past may 05'went in to have a hernia fixed in my bowel intestine. What is this pain>? Have lost 160 lbs, and am now lactose intollerent......... Just want to be normal.... Anyone having the same problems or have any comments or suggestions please email me. Thank you kb

I had gastric bypass in january 2004 and have lost 130 lbs. I have been experiencing similar pain. My gastric bypass surgeon believes it is due to adhesions or scar tissue that has formed in my intestine where a small portion was removed. I got pregnant in august of 2004 and now have a 6 month old son. The pain increased as my pregnancy progressed and they believed that the bigger he got, the more my intestine was "squeezed". The pain has lessened now that I am no longer pregnant but I do get it every few weeks. I had an mri while I was pregnant because they couldn't do a ct scan and it did not show anything but my surgeon says that adhesions are very difficult to diagnose. He might just cut me open to do exploratory surgery but adhesions can reform. We'll see...

I had a bypass on 4-29-2004, it leaked and was repaired 5-1-2004. I have had nothing but pain and trouble since the procedure. Hernia repairs, exploratory laparotomy, dilatation, endoscopies, colonoscopies, etc., in search of the cause of the pain to no avail. I was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis and treated but am now taking robinul and protonix which are not helping. I've been mrid, ct scanned, stress tested, tilt tables for syncope and everything. My labs are drawn every 3 months. I've had scar tissue and adhesions removed and have been told my pain is likely due to more scar tissue growing back. I have zero quality of life though I have gone from 258 pounds to 164 in this time frame. I stopped losing weight because meat and vegetables hurt -- soft foods like rice, bread, cereal -- diverticulitis foods -- don't hurt but have calories. I never exercise -- walking is misery. My bp is never above 88/45 and I am exhausted all the time. I have malabsorption, low b vitamins, low iron and am anemic. I have a ppo and am getting excellent care, but my gb surgeons cringe when I walk in and my internist and gastroenterologist are completely mystified as to what causes the pain. My hypothesis is that the damn gastric bypass operation is wrong wrong wrong on all levels. I would never do it again and would never recommend it to anyone. I may look good -- except for the sagging skin and flabby ass -- but I feel horrible 24/7 and no one can explain why. I think mutilating our bodies to be thin might have been a big mistake and the studies saying it was ok to ruin a perfectly good, but chubby, body weren't all honest. I regret having surgery and am living in fear of becoming extremely sick at any time or even dying. There is no quality of life here. I signed a consent form for surgery, not a life sentence for pain. In california no malpractice lawyer will touch a gb case unless the patient dies. It's just not worth it.

My best friend and the love of my life had gastric bypass surgery (rous-en-y) about five years ago and has had a plethora of complications that began some time ago. We've only known each other for a little over a year but as long as i've known her she has experienced recurring pain that no doctor at this point can explain. She has been through the gamut of tests (mri, ct scan etc.) with no solutions in sight. She has not been able to sleep on her own bed for well over a year (she sleeps in her easy chair...That sucks!). I feel so helpless even though I go on-line, religiously, trying to see if there's anyone out there with some clue as to what is going on. I believe, absolutely, that her pain is related to the gastric bypass surgery. It's ripping my heart out to see her in such pain while doctors try to tell her that it's in her head. Is there anyone out there that even has a clue? I want desperartely to help her but, short of becoming a physician myself, I don't know what to do. I feel so helpless even though I do not intend to quit searching for answers until she is well again.

Her pains are consistantly strong and under her rib-cage on her left side and continues into her back. She has very little energy most of the time, which I believe is partly due to malabsorption, even though she takes multi-vitamins. She recently had a procedure called a splancnic nerve block to help relieve the pain...It lasted all of about three days. My personal concerns withstanding, I am hoping against hope that there is someone out there who has the same symptoms and maybe has found a solution, be it temporary or permanent. I myself am a cancer survivor (colon) and have ulcerative colitis and understand how dibilitating chronic pain can be and it's all the more reason why I am searching for answers. I love her dearly and will expend whatever effort is needed to find her help. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I've recently received an e-mail that suggests eating "soft" foods (ie. Rice, oatmeal even baby food) for a week to determine if the problems are directly related to the intestines inability to "process" slow digesting foods such as meat and leafy vegetables. I'm going to suggest that to my girlfriend and see if it helps to any degree. I know it sounds "bland" as far as taste is concerned but I believe anything to reduce the pain and discomfort would be more desireable. Wish her luck and may god bless you all who suffer as she does.

As all medical procedures have.negatives, gb is no different. I wish there were a way to not cause anybody any problems when they get gb.

Gbp

I to had a gastric bypass and have had pain that started about 3 months after. I have had every test thinkable and 3 surgeries!! Everytime the drs think they found the reasons! The pain goes away for about a week and then comes back! I think I well just learn to live with it- I dont want anymore surgery! It scares me so much that I worry if I have somehow shortened my life span by having this surgery. It has been 4 years since surgery. I look great but cant do much of anything which requires me to be physical I have even left work 3x an ambulance! Now I am not working and dont know what will happen as time goes by. Has anyone found an answer? I to have been told its in my mind. Theirs to many of us that are experincing the same kind of pain. I know the drs say its not from the bypass, but I think the #s here speak differant. Its about time a dr starts figuring out what this side effect from gbs is all about instead of pushing this aside. Please let me know if anyof you have found an answer. I only have a bm every 3-4or 5 days and they are always runny how about people with pain in left side and below ribs is your bm the same? Thanks gbs

Thank god someone else feels the same way. I had my gp in april '05 and have nothing but problems since. I have horrible stomach pains, headaces and feel sick almost daily. I admit I haven't been the best paient with following my diet but I never expected all this. All I want to do is go back to the way I was. I want to end this suffering and have honestly thought about having it reversed if that's even a possibility. I have gone from being 260lbs and feeling pretty good to being 170 lbs and feeling terrible all the time. I have a wonderful bf who loved me before when I thought that I was fat and he still loves me, now he just worries all the time about my health too! We want to have kids but i'm afraid that it will make it worse or i'll get sick or die! This has ruined my life.
My stomach pain started back in novemeber when I would get stomach pain in my lower stomach so bad that I couldn't breathe, my chest hurt, my back hurt, my kidneys hurt and I was doubled over in excruciating pain for up to 6 hours. It happened only occasionally and told my doctor about it but he played it off like it was my fault because I ate too fast or didn't chew enough or wasn't doing anything right. It subsided for a while and now (as of a month or so ago) I am getting stomach pains, most of the time in the center of my chest that riadets down and steeles near my rib cage. It's accompianed by headaces and nausa and it's occuring on almost a daily basis, it's not the same cripling pain that it used to be but it's definatly more than uncomfortable. I don't know what to do. I don't know what it is. I'm so afraid that I have given myself a premature death sentance all in the name of thinness.

I am not a dr but why not get a second opinion? I have heard some people really complain after a bypass. Some drs say that it is their pancreas. I don't blame you for wanting it back the way it was. Sometimes after surgery you have more problems then before, I went through that with my neck, 1st it was scar tissue , then it was arthritis then another surgery, heck with it, no more surgeries for me.
All the best to you!